Bolts' 2004 schedule a 'tough one'

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers knew the identity of this season'sopponents on their long road to respectability. Now, they know whenthey'll face them.

The NFL announced its 2004 schedule on Wednesday, and the 4-12Chargers begin the regular season where the league ended itspostseason: Houston.

"It's going to be a tough one," Chargers coach MartySchottenheimer said. "We've got teams that are going to be muchimproved from a year ago. And if you look at our division, you'vegot the AFC champions of a couple years ago, Oakland, plus KansasCity and Denver, two teams that made the playoffs last year."

The third-year Texans are the Chargers' opening rival Sept. 12,the first of two road games the team will play in September. Afterentertaining coach Herman Edwards' New York Jets, the Chargers headback out for a Sept. 26 date at Denver.

When traveling to Georgia, the Chargers will have Michael Vickon their mind. The exciting quarterback who has flipped Atlanta'sfranchise was nearly a Charger. The team swapped the rights to the2001 No. 1 overall pick, a trade that allowed Atlanta to draft Vickand the Chargers to select standout running back LaDainian
Tomlinson.

While no one questions Tomlinson's considerable skills, the
Chargers are a dreadful 17-31 since that trade.

The Chargers are home for but one game in November, with the New
Orleans Saints, and former Chargers kicker John Carney, visitingNov. 7. Otherwise, the team has its bye the following week, thenhits the road for excursions to Oakland (Nov. 21) and Kansas City(Nov. 28).

December has rarely been a cheery month for the Chargers, andthis year could offer another lump of coal. They host the Broncoson Dec. 5 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 12. Then they playat Cleveland (Dec. 19) -- the Chargers collected a rare road winthere last year -- and at Indianapolis (Dec. 26).

The late December date with the Colts means the Chargers will beaway for Christmas. But it could make for a holiday family reunionif the Chargers select Eli Manning next week with the draft's No. 1pick.

The Chargers failed to reach the playoffs for the eighthstraight season last year, so it's been awhile since they played ameaningful game in January. But they're at least guaranteed a gamethat month this season. The Chiefs visit the "Q" for theregular-season finale Jan. 2.